Dreams Accomplished
Alumnus shares inspiration behind scholarship gifts
Jeffrey Petterson, B.A. '71, who, along with his siblings, created two scholarships at UT.
Next to my family, my education has had the biggest impact on my life. It's now more than 50 years since I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. Recently I've been thinking about how I want to be remembered. With my siblings — all loyal friends of the University — I decided to create a scholarship in our parents' names. The Lyle and Jeryle Petterson Endowed Scholarship supports students in the School of Nursing, one of the leading nursing schools in the nation.
Our family's legacy also includes the Petterson Family Endowed Scholarship in Computer Science. These endowments are very meaningful to us, so I've chosen to further support them by designating a future gift in my estate plan. We believe the School of Nursing is changing the world. UT Computer Science is highly ranked nationally and is training future leaders. We're excited to support students and to invest in future generations of Longhorns. And by participating in the Texas Challenge program, which matches scholarship donations dollar for dollar, we've doubled the impact of our giving.
– Jeffrey Petterson, B.A. '71, Texas Leadership Society member
Students Express Gratitude for Petterson Family's Gifts
"I'm grateful for such a generous scholarship to study in one of the most prestigious computer science programs in the world. Financial worries put enormous pressure on me to work more hours and it was affecting my school performance. Thanks to this scholarship, I can work less and study more. Thank you for investing in my future."
– Vishal Rachapudi, recipient of the Petterson Family Endowed Scholarship in Computer Science
"The Petterson family has given me the opportunity to succeed. After graduating, I plan to work in pediatrics and pursue a master's in nursing, which would not have been possible without this scholarship."
– Ana Dalton, recipient of the Lyle and Jeryle Petterson Endowed Scholarship for the School of Nursing
Unlock Student Potential
Did you know it's possible to fund a scholarship without ever writing a check? To discover non-cash ways to support scholarships at UT, download our FREE guide, "Scholarships: Open Doors to Life-Changing Opportunities." For more information, contact the Gift and Estate Planning Team at 512-475-9632 or giftplan@austin.utexas.edu.